Understanding & Explaining Wedding Usher Duties

Ever found yourself wondering exactly what wedding usher duties involve? Does your usher or usherette simply show people to their seats at your reception? Or are they involved in the organisation of wedding photos too?

For you to be able to choose and then instruct your wedding usher, you’ll need to specifically nail down their duties. We’re here to help. Here are a list of wedding usher duties for you to consider.

Guide to Wedding Usher Duties 101

An usher is usually a male relative or friend of the bride or groom. Traditionally they’ve been tasked with the job of showing wedding guests to their seat for the ceremony. One of the wedding party’s lesser roles, an usher or usherette is great for someone who wants to be involved, but doesn’t want a big responsibility. The duties you could ask your chosen usher or usherette to fulfill can also depend on how formal your wedding is. Their duties could include:

Help guests from their cars to the church or ceremony venue

Show guests where they can park their cars

Escort drunk guests away from the reception

Walk guests to their seats for the ceremony

Direct guests to areas where they can sit for the ceremony

Stand at the back during the ceremony to show any latecomers where they can sit

Hand out Order of Service sheets to guests

Walk the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom to their seats

Help arrange chairs for the wedding ceremony

Assist with testing of the sound system

Direct guests to their positions for wedding photos

Show guests where the toilets are

Provide water to guests or wedding party members who may need it – think coughing fit

What Makes a Great Wedding Usher or Usherette?

Like everyone in the wedding party, the usher or usherette will be under scrutiny. The way they look and behave will be noticed. That makes it important to choose the right person and detail your expectations of them. Some of the things you need to think about are:

Clothing – are you providing a suit or dress to match the wedding party?

Preparation – like other wedding party members, your usher or usherette will likely face many hours between meals. Make sure you have food and drink provided for them before your ceremony begins

Manners – a more formal wedding will see your usher guide guests to their seats. To do this in a formal manner, they will need to offer the guest their right arm, which is held stiff and bent at the elbow

Family Tension – it is a wise idea to talk with them about any family issues, such as divorced parents or estranged family members. By giving them a heads up, you avoid any awkwardness when guests are finding their seats

Once your usher or usherette makes it to your reception, their duties are traditionally finished. As a result, they get to enjoy the rest of the time with your other guests helping to celebrate your marriage!